Brooklyn, New York's Gothic Knights didn't need to grow up inside a European castle (White Castle did just fine, thank you very much!) to learn the secrets of authentic Euro-flavored heavy metal; they had ready-made homegrown heroes in American precursors like Virgin Steele and Savage Grace. Formed in 1990, Gothic Knights finally released their eponymous debut album six years later, then needed another three years to issue the sophomore Kingdom of the Knights (both through the Sentinel Steel label) due to guitarist John Tsantakis and ba**ist Mario Cosentino having to replace departed vocalist Rick Sanchez and drummer Brian Dispost (diagnosed with multiple sclerosis) with Bryan Avatar and Kevin Myers, respectively. Sanchez would eventually rejoin Tsantakis, Cosentino and, along with Virgin Steele drummer Frank Gilchriest, revive the Gothic Knights for a third album titled Up from the Ashes, released in 2003. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide